Virginia G. Spitzer

Virginia "Jinny" Gertrude Moak Spitzer November 2, 2011 Virginia "Jinny" Gertrude Moak Spitzer, 86, of Cortland and formerly of New Hartford, passed away after a brief illness at the Cortland Care Center on November 2, 2011. Born on February 5, 1925 in Los Angeles, CA, the daughter of Dorothy and Don Moak, Jinny was a 1944 graduate of New Hartford High School. She attended Syracuse University, where she studied fine arts. As a girl, she was among the first students to enroll as a student in Utica's Munson-Williams-Proctor Art Institute. She married William H. Spitzer, in 1950. Jinny was active in many community organizations in the Utica area, including the Overseas Friendship Center officer, Planned Parenthood board member, the Junior League, the Community Chest, the Utica Council of Churches, the PTA, the Cerebral Palsy Association, the Unitarian-Universalist Church, many leukemia and cancer drives, and community theater, including the Players Theater. Along with her husband Bill, she was deeply involved in local politics. Both worked actively on the campaigns of Utica reformist Mayor Dick Assaro in the 1960s, and numerous other national, state, and local political campaigns. Jinny organized and pioneered the use of targeted telephone techniques during the Assaro campaigns to gauge the political climate during an election and to mobilize voters on election day. In the 1970s, she ran for New Hartford town tax collector and New Hartford town clerk. For several years, she operated a local consulting firm, SRS Enterprises. In the 1980s, she served as secretary for the New Hartford Town Board, and was an election inspector for many years. After her husband's retirement as regional director of the New York State Lottery in 1983, she resumed interest in golf, and continued her life-long love of the visual and performing arts, old movies, and interest in politics. She was also a lifelong bridge devotee, which she continued to play until her passing. Known for her dignity, grace, intelligence, charm, and positive outlook, Jinny possessed a knack for drawing out the best in other people. Ms. Spitzer was predeceased by her husband of 46 years, William, and sister Dorothy "Dottie" Hawkins. She is survived by her children, Gary of Liverpool, Robert (Teresa) of Cortland, and Gail of Cortland; cousins, Barbara (Steve) Lomnes and Jack (Carol) Casey; nieces and nephews, Casey Hawkins McKinnon, Carol (Todd) Perlmutter Nelson, Leslie Spitzer, Robin Spitzer, Gerald (Jeanne) Spitzer, and grandchildren. A memorial service will be held at Childs Chapel at Forest Hill Cemetery in Utica on Saturday, Nov. 5 at 11 a.m. Memorial contributions can be made to the Cortland Care Center, Resident Activities Dept., 193 Clinton Ave., Cortland, NY 13045.